Apparatus for low temperature carbonization



P. C. POPE Oct. 18, 1932.

APPARATUS FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONIZAiION ori inal Filed Dec. 7, 1928 Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNITED STATES PHILIP CROSBY POPE, OF BECKENHAM, ENGLAND APPARATUS FOR LOW TEMPERA'TTTRE CARBONIZATION Application filed December 7, 1928, Serial No. 324,540, and in Great Britain December 9, 1927. Renewed June 21, 1932.

This invention relates to low temperature carbonization, and has for its main object to provide improved apparatus for containing the charges of coal, shale or other material (hereinafter referred to as coal) during the carbonization process for filling the container and discharging the resultant coke, or other solid residue (hereinafter referred to as coke).

A further object is to provide improved apparatus whereby the coal is treated in an externally heated annular retort. In the preferred arrangement this retort consists of a tubular chamber provided with an internal stem which leaves an annular space between it and the chamber, and after the necessary heating action has taken place in the retort the stem is lowered with coke adhering to it, thus carrying the coke into a cooling chamber; one or more scrapers are provided which bear against the stem during its movement thus removing coke adhering thereto. By the word annular it is not intended to imply that the inner and outer walls of the retort are essentially circular; they may, in fact, be of other suitable section if desired and the term annular should be read accordingly. The re tort is charged by means of a hopper which may consist of an extension of the cylindrical chamber provided with an internal ring of conical form which is normally closed by a conical valve.

This valve is preferably hollow and filled with heat insulating material to minimize conduction of heat from the retort to the hopper. The cooling chamberis preferably suspended from the annular retort which is supported by the upper portion of the furnace so that it is free to expand and contract under variations of temperature. The inter nal stem is preferably provided at its lower end with an enlarged portion which forms a loose fit in the end of the cylindrical chamber and is closed at this end and is supported at its upper end by a hollow tube which is suspended from suitable raising and lowering gear.

Low pressure steam is preferably introduced into the cooling chamber and passes up through the narrow passage between the cypointed out that in the preferred construction the length of the upper portion B of the stem is approximately ninetimes its diameter.

The container proper consists of a tubular memberA provided with a central tubular stem the. upper end B of which is reduced in diameter. The radial distance between the periphery of the stem B and the tubular container A is greater than the diameter of the largest size piece of coal to be treated, except at the bottom portion C where the stem is enlarged so as to be a loose fit in the container. The tubular container is situated within and projects through the bottom of the combustion chamber or furnace D and is normally closed by the enlarged portion C of the stem. The coal is fed into the upper end of the container which is provided with a hopper ring E and a conical valve F normally closes the hopper but on lowering the valve the coal falls down an annular passage between the valve and the hopper ring E.

Below the container is arranged a pair of hinged scrapers G and at the end of the heating operation these hinged scrapers are opened by rotating about their pivots'g and the stem is lowered into a coke chamber H provided with an outlet door J whereupon any loose coke falls into the chamber. When the stem reaches its lowermost position the hinged scrapers are closed again on to the central stem which is then returned and the scrapers remove coke adhering to the central stem.

The container A is secured at its lower end to the top of plate h of the coke chamber, a ring a being secured upon the container for this purpose; it is fixed by a ring (Z at the top of the furnace D and is free at the top so that the container and coke chamber are suspended from the ring d and expansion and contraction due to variation of temperature can be taken up without serious strain. The stem B is carried by a central tube K which is suspended from. the frame of a pulley L capable of being raised and lowered by suitable means such as a cable M anchored at a point N and passing over a pulley'O; the tube K is open-ended to provide for expansion of air inside the stem B which, as is shown, is closed at the bottom.

The conical valve F is hollow as shown, the

space being filled with heat insulating material which prevents heat from passing from inside the retort to the coal resting in the hopper.

The valve is loosely mounted upon the tube K and is held up against the ring E by suitable means such as counterweighted chains f, and is lowered when it is desired to charge the retort after the stem has returned to its uppermost position after lowering to discharge the coke formed from the retort. The stem B is provided at its upper'end with a conical portion b which will cause to fall back into the container any fluid material deposited upon this portion.

Alternatively the hopper could take the form of a separate member of greater diameter than the container, and provided with a central tube through which passes the central tube K of the stem. The Valve in this form of hopper could be so constructed that it is raised for the purpose of charging, and this raising could either be effected by the core or by means of a tubular stem attached to the valve and projecting above the hopper.

During carbonization low pressure steam is preferably admitted to the coke chamber for cooling the coke in the chamber. The steam passes through the narrow annular passage between the enlarged part of the stem and the container and becomes superheated as it enters the container; it then ascends through the container and assists in washing out the gases and vapors therein through a gas offtake pipe P preferably situated at or near the upper end of the container as well as imparting some of its heat to the coal in the container and helping to distribute the heat from the walls of the container more evenly throughout the mass of the coal.

It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the exact details shown and described but embraces such modifications as come within the scope of the accompanying claims.

I claim 1. In a low-temperature carbonization apparatus, the combination of an externally heated tubular chamber to contain the coal under treatment, an internal stem mounted substantially centrally within said chamber,

a cooling chamber located beyond the exit of said tubular chamber, means for causing said stem to move into and out of said cooling chamber, and pivoted scrapers adapted to allow said stem to pass freely through them when moving into the cooling chamber and to scrape coke adhering to said stem as it moves out of said cooling chamber.

2. In a low-temperature carbonization apparatus, the combination of an externally heated tubular chamber to contain the coal under treatment, a hollow internal stem mounted substantially within said chamber, said stem being connected at one end to means for moving it into and out of the chamber and being closed at the other end, and formed at said last mentioned end With a cylindrical portion of enlarged diameter loosely fitting within said chamber.

3. In a low-temperature carbonization apparatus, the combination of an externally heated tubular chamber to contain the coal under treatment, an internal stem mounted substantially centrally within said chamber, an extension to said chamber functioning as a feed hopper, said hopper having a fuel opening, a conical valve controlling said fuel opening, means for moving said conical valve,

' and a tubular extension to said stem passing through and guiding said valve.

4. In a low-temperature carbonization apparatus, the combination of a tubular chamher to contain the coal under treatment, an internal stem mounted substantially centrally within the chamber, a conical upper end to said stem, a charging hopper above said chamber, and a. conical valve normally closing said hopper, said valve when lowered for charging resting upon the conical upper end of the said stem.

In testimony whereof I affix mysignature.

PHILIP CROSBY POPE. 

